Choosing Instruments To Create A Sense Of World And Setting

On the surface this may seem pretty basic. Choosing an instrument such as a sitar can instantly transport you to India, the Erhu and south Asia or the Bagpipes and Scotland. 

This is obvious and instinctual to everyone, musical or not, but how does instrumental choice go deeper than this and how can settings be solidified through choice of instrument or ensemble and how can we create new worlds beyond our own.

History

The next primary layer of influence an instrument has is its historical context. Take a harpsichord for example, and you immediately include connotations of the ornate nature of aristocratic Europe, or a jaw harp/harmonica can take you to the wild west. Instruments like the lyre and cornu can take you to ancient Greece or Rome.

Genre

It is also typical to group instruments to solidify authenticity of a film’s genre. This can be as simple as a blending choirs, wooden flutes and celtic instruments with the modern orchestra to create the sound of ethereal fantasy. Or using a blend of synthesizers and electronic instruments to signify high tech sci-fi. Through popularity and development of a genre the sound palette, including instrumental choices, becomes an integral part of the genre’s identity.

Space and Place

Choice of instrument can also give you a sense of space and type of place of the world a filmmaker is creating. A single oboe can instantly transport us to somewhere small and quiet whilst a full choir and brass section can set the scene for a huge expanse. On the other hand combining a choir and organ can put us in a religious setting so it is important to understand that instrumental choices can have multiple associations and so implications when creating the soundscape for a new world.

Environmental Resonance

The materials an instrument is created from can also be representative of the space being created. Brass instruments and metal percussion can be used to portray industry. A famous example of this is the Isengard theme by Howard Shore in the Lord of the Rings where we have a trombone and tuba theme underpinned by anvils and metallic hits. Another example of environmental resonance would be the use of wooden instruments like flutes or fiddles that can portray a natural setting such as forests and the countryside. Again turning to Howard Shore and the Lord of the Rings Shire Theme as a prime example of this.

LOTR - Isengard Theme https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXVtpOHQqvY

LOTR - Concerning Hobbits: The Fellowship of the Ring Soundtrack-02-Concerning Hobbits

Creating A New World Through Instruments

Based upon the evolution of genres and the connotations of the vast array of instruments at the composer’s disposal it can be very exciting to blend instruments to establish a new timbre. Doing so tactfully can create a strong and unique sense of identity in a score whilst making a fictional setting become more authentic.

A great example of this in recent TV is The Mandalorian where Ludwig Göransson uses a bass recorder in combination with electronic textures and ambient pads. Using a solo bass recorder sets a natural setting and the electronic sounds give an air of the futuristic. Yet when these instruments are combined it also feels somewhat ancient due to the blend of traditional and electronic. 

The hybrid soundworld sets up the mystery of the environment whilst also sitting in nature, it creates isolation in the solo line and expanse in the ambient pads. When this is combined with the shamanic repetition of the bass recorder theme and ritualistic frame drum the timbre is nuanced and multi-layered being both unique and familiar at the same time.

References:

The Mandalorian - Main Titles - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i_OIKx9IG4o